Category: Top Places

Tennessee, Top Places

Ramey’s Bar B Que, Parsons, Tennessee: The Pig is Back on the Pit!

Great news for barbecue lovers who live in Tennessee or who, like me, plan to go there. Ramey’s is back selling the best whole hog barbecue in Tennessee. Indeed, I’ll go further and say Ramey’s has the best whole hog barbecue outside of Eastern North Carolina. As my most devoted readers will recall, Ramey’s doesn’t cook barbecue from November into March. The cold weather requires … Continue reading Ramey’s Bar B Que, Parsons, Tennessee: The Pig is Back on the Pit!

John Tanner2 Comments
DC and Maryland, sausage, Top Places

Wagyu vs. Prime at 2fifty Texas BBQ, Riverdale Park, Maryland

I finally managed to get back to 2fifty Texas BBQ, easily the best barbecue place in the Washington area. They’ve changed a lot since my first few visits. They’ve moved to their permanent location (which is really nice) and added a lot of outdoor seating. They’ve expanded their hours to include Friday and Saturday, as well as Sunday, and are shooting to open Thursdays as … Continue reading Wagyu vs. Prime at 2fifty Texas BBQ, Riverdale Park, Maryland

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Alabama, Other foods, ribs, Top Places

A Great Loss: Mike Wilson of SAW’s Barbecue

Mike Wilson, the genius behind SAW’s BBQ, SAW’s Soul Kitchen, and SAW’s Juke Joint, died over the Labor Day weekend, of all the weekends of the year. Mike opened SAW’s BBQ in Homewood, Alabama, in 2009. The first time I went there, back in 2014, I posted that “SAW’s Barbecue in Homewood, Alabama, serves what may well be the moistest, most tender barbecue in the … Continue reading A Great Loss: Mike Wilson of SAW’s Barbecue

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North Carolina, Other foods, Top Places

Smith’s Red and White, Dortches, North Carolina

I did not stop for barbecue on the way back from the beach at Pine Knoll Shores. I guess I should explain.  There was a hiccup in my departure — we lost one of the keys and one parking pass for our rental — a problem I resolved easily enough by reconciling myself to the loss of $75.  That left me a good half hour … Continue reading Smith’s Red and White, Dortches, North Carolina

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Best Lists, North Carolina, Other foods, Top Places

The 2020 World’s Best Shrimpburger Competition: Recapping the Results

Let me recapitulate the results of the 2020 World’s Best Shrimpburger Competition for those who joined us late.  I confused things when I led off with the ultimate winner, and only later — several barbecue posts later — started with the countdown: 3d runner-up, 2d runner-up, etc.  I did that so you could try the very best before you left the beach. That first post … Continue reading The 2020 World’s Best Shrimpburger Competition: Recapping the Results

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North Carolina, Other foods, Top Places

The Skylight Inn, Ayden, North Carolina

I wanted to end the trip — my three day Tour de Barbecue — with some especially great barbecue for my last barbecue meal before going on to the beach and shifting my culinary gears to judging the 2020 World Shrimpburger Competition (See the winner here.)    Naturally I went to the Skylight Inn. I’ve blogged about the Skylight Inn a couple of times (see … Continue reading The Skylight Inn, Ayden, North Carolina

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North Carolina, Top Places

Grady’s BBQ, Near Dudley, North Carolina

After my memorable lunch at Southern Smoke in Garland, I started meandering north, again wondering where to eat next.  I’d about run out of True ‘Cue places within reach that I hadn’t tried, so I decided to go see if Wilber’s was open, or at least if someone was there with whom I could talk and get some inside information.  (Note — it has since … Continue reading Grady’s BBQ, Near Dudley, North Carolina

John Tanner4 Comments
North Carolina, ribs, Top Places

Southern Smoke, Garland, North Carolina

After my wonderful breakfast at the Oak Level Cafe, I had a longish drive down to Garland for lunch at Matt Register’s Southern Smoke.  Given the size of the biscuits, the long drive was just as well.  As I mentioned in that post, I had a lunch date, and it was with my good friend, Dan Kenney. of Lumberton, North Carolina. Dan is a Renaissance Man: … Continue reading Southern Smoke, Garland, North Carolina

John Tanner5 Comments
North Carolina, Other foods, Top Places

The 2020 World’s Best Shrimpburger Competition: The Captain’s Kitchen, Indian Beach and Emerald Isle, North Carolina, Three-Peats!

NEWS FLASH!  The Captain’s Kitchen has won the World’s Best Shrimpburger  Competition, the Super Bowl for shrimpburgers, for the third year in a row. The Captain’s Kitchen is a food truck that alternates between the two above locations.  The victory is no surprise, but the three-peat is historic. (Having interrupted my 3 1/2 day barbecue-eating trip for a Special Bulletin review of the newly reopened … Continue reading The 2020 World’s Best Shrimpburger Competition: The Captain’s Kitchen, Indian Beach and Emerald Isle, North Carolina, Three-Peats!

John Tanner9 Comments
Other foods, ribs, Top Places, Virginia

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque, Richmond, Virginia

Friends, hop in your car right this minute and drive to Richmond while a passenger reads this exciting episode to you.  ZZQ definitely is a Top Place. After my delightful if ill-timed visit to SMoHK, I drove around a little to get ready to check out ZZQ.  I like to wait at least a half hour between meals.  Actually, I’d already stopped at ZZQ to verify … Continue reading ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque, Richmond, Virginia

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